Detective Comics Vol 1 735

"Fruit of the Earth, Part 3": Batman and Clayface stood in front of Poison Ivy. Clayface attacked Batman by surprise but Ivy was planning something against Clayface. Batman grabbed a liquid nitrogen from his [[U

Synopsis for "Fruit of the Earth, Part 3"

Batman and Clayface stood in front of Poison Ivy. Clayface attacked Batman by surprise but Ivy was planning something against Clayface. Batman grabbed a liquid nitrogen from his Utility Belt and intended to used it againts Clayface. Ivy was using her force of nature to create a battle suit made of lianas that covered her whole body. When she was suited up, Batman used the liquid nitrogen on Clayface who dropped Batman immediately after. Batman and Ivy worked together to get out of the cave to the surface where Robin was waiting for them. Once they were outside, Batman told Robin to drop the explosives into the cave and the boy wonder did. The explosion damaged Clayface, but not enough to stop him as he was already reaching the surface. Ivy used her control over nature to entangle Clayface with the roots and branches from nearby trees and immobilized him. Soon, grass and roots began to sprout from Clayface's body and Ivy explained that he was full of nutrients for plants to grow and thrive. Clayface begged for mercy but Ivy had nothing but contempt for him. Batman tried to stop her from killing Clayface but she entangled Batman as well and the kids at Ivy's care prevented Robin from helping his mentor. Ivy then approached Clayface and used her poisonous kiss on him. Clayface was in shock and couldn't move and after a few seconds, he disintegrated in the air and into the soil. Batman and Robin finally broke free and when they reached Ivy, she was already taking care of the abandoned children and reminded them that it was the first day of summer as she pointed to the many fruits in the trees around the park.

At that moment, James Gordon called Renee Montoya and told her to go and tell their untrusty ally that their alliance was over. Renee was happy to do the errand and Gordon admired Montoya's tenacity.

Later, at night in Gotham, James Gordon was waiting for Montoya to return, but instead Two-Face showed up. Two-Face explained Gordon that he sent Cain to kill him because the coin landed on the bad side. Gordon told Two-Face that their alliance was over and Two-Face replied that he should reconsider it because he was holding Renee Montoya as a prisoner in his territory. Two-Face tossed Montoya's badge to Gordon as a proof. Gordon attacked him, but Two-Face was armed with a gun and Gordon could do nothing to stop Dent from walking away. Gordon was left alone, staring at Montoya's bloody badge.

In the meantime, Batman waited for Ivy to recover the secret box she held hidden in the cave. When she handled it to him, Batman opened it and discovered that the content was destroyed. Ivy told him that she did it because those things were made of plastic, a strong contaminant, and that she imagined that he had some backups elsewhere. Batman was mad at Ivy and how she used him to save her. After considering it, Batman decided to let Ivy continue working in the park with the conditions that she grow food from the trees, that she take good care of the children and that she prevent the park from falling into any other villain's hands.

Later, Batman and Robin went to Oracle's Watchtower and notified Barbara of all that happened at the park. She came up with a solution to retrieve the backups that Batman had stored somewhere outside Gotham. Batman was not glad to accept the offer but he did in the end, as he had no other choice. They needed the talents of Selina Kyle and they needed to trick her into doing what they wanted; and so they called her and offered her a job she could not resist.

Notes

This is the third and last part of the storyline entitled Fruit of the Earth, its previuos chapter is Batman #568. This specific storyline continues in Catwoman #72. No Man's Land continues in JLA #32.

Trivia

This is the first time that Poison Ivy uses a complete body suit made of roots and lianas, much like her New 52 suit design. However, on later appearances in this continuity she features her traditional suit made of leafs.

This is the first time that Bane appears again since he was last seen at the end of the Legacy storyline.